New sorority seeks colony status
The sorority will work with Delta Lambda Phi fraternity.
Published March 9, 2007
Gamma Rho Lambda sorority founders Ashley Price, Ashlee Kolieboi and Kelley Robinson plan to establish the organization as a colony sometime next week. In order to accomplish this, the sorority must have at least 10 members who each pay $250 in initial dues.
The founders of the sorority for alternative lifestyle-focused women said the sorority's national office must recognize the group as a colony as soon as possible in order for it to be recognized as a chapter by fall 2009.
Twenty prospective members attended an informational meeting Wednesday night, and Robinson said she was happy with the turnout.
"They all seem to be very excited about the program," she said. "That's what we're really looking for: very enthusiastic, very dedicated women to start this program off on the right foot."
Price said she thinks the sorority's prospective members would not fit in other sororities.
"We're not the poster children for the Greek system," she said.
Junior Mallory Herrmann, a prospective member of Gamma Rho Lambda, said she wanted to join a sorority but had a hard time finding the right fit.
"I always thought joining a sorority would be cool," Herrmann said. "But I was kind of turned off by negative stereotypes."
Price said founders of the sorority hope to provide a place in which members can avoid the negative aspects of campus life for progressive individuals.
"This does give us a chance to create a home away from home for people," she said.
Price said she still plans for the sorority to participate in philanthropy and other activities with the Greek community. Founders of the sorority hope the chapter can join the Multicultural Greek Council, which is the governing body for Greek chapters not part of the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association or National Pan-Hellenic Council.
"I think that we are a group of accepting women who are fun and motivated," Price said. "And if other people don't accept that, that's not our issue. We're ready to work with whoever wants to work with us."
Price said the sorority will enter into a partnership with Delta Lambda Phi fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men.
The two Greek chapters are independent of each other but will collaborate on certain events.
"We both have the same focus, the progressive focus, the goal of inclusion on campus and some of our mission statement goals are definitely in line, so we would like to work with them to help them in anyway that we can," Robinson said.
One of the first events of the partnership will be the co-sponsorship of the National Day of Silence at MU.
According to the Web site for the National Day of Silence, participants choose not to speak in order to protest the bullying, harassment and discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.
Delta Lambda Phi President Charlie Calvin said the partnership will help the two organizations make the campus a safer place for progressive individuals.
"I feel like it is beneficial for us to join together," Calvin said. "Because therefore, we will be able to get a lot more accomplished on campus in terms of making it a safer climate for everyone."